Secrets In The Shadows

by Sheridon Smythe

  "No. Colt didn't want me knowing, and I'm a man of honor. Not wanting me to know what was in it wasn't a matter of not trusting me, Sheriff Logan. Colt was a private man and he was more concerned with someone else snooping into his business."

  "But you said he had a copy of whatever was in that envelope."

  "That's what he said,” Graham corrected.

  "Yet nothing was ever found.” If it had been, then Rudy Wagner wouldn't own the ranch right now, if Graham could be believed. Graham and Rusty, he silently corrected. They were both adamant about Colt's intentions of leaving the ranch to his grandson.

  Graham was shaking his head, frowning down into his liquor glass. “No. Only the ... suicide note."

  "Colt's handwriting?” If anyone should know, Graham Silverstone would.

  "Without a doubt,” Graham said regretfully, destroying the last of Adam's hopes. Yet, the ranch didn't matter all that much, except for the pleasure it would have given him to run Rudy Wagner off his land. When he had told Rusty it didn't matter, that he would never get the stink of Rudy Wagner from the ranch, he had meant it.

  Restlessly, Adam stood and began pacing the room, his brow furrowed in thought. “So they found a suicide note, but not a will. On the same day of his death, there was a mysterious fire in your office which destroyed the only other copy.” Suddenly, he stopped and pinned Graham with a hard, incredulous look. “And you still believe he killed himself?"

  Graham looked away, staring out the window. “Colt didn't have any enemies in this town. We couldn't imagine anyone forcing him to write that note and then forcing him to put a rope around his neck. It all seemed cut and dried, son."

  Colt may not have had enemies in town, but Adam could think of one he had out of town. “Did you tell anyone about the will?” Adam asked tersely.

  "I didn't see the point, and besides, things were kind of crazy for the next day or two. I had other clients and Adam"—Graham took a step in Adam's direction as if pleading for understanding—"I'm not even certain that envelope contained a will."

  "It did.” Adam had never been so sure of anything in his life. His mother was right; Colt Murddock did not commit suicide. He was murdered, and now Adam suspected he knew who was behind it all. It didn't matter that it had happened so many years ago. It was never too late for justice.

  But he needed proof. A witness, someone who might have seen something the day his grandfather died. Adam finally tipped back the brandy and downed the contents. There was one person who might hold the key to unlocking this mystery.

  Lacy Ross.

  * * * *

  "Bucket. The word's bucket, ain't it Lacy?” Ben crowed excitedly. He continued to stare at the paper Lacy held in front of the hand mirror as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. The entire family had gathered at the kitchen table to test Lacy's theory. Night had fallen, and a moth found its way through the open window, attracted by the bright glow of the oil lamp in the center of the table.

  Lacy beamed at him. “Yes, it says ‘bucket'. Let me do another one.” She lowered the paper and quickly printed out another word, then held it up to the mirror. Rusty and Takola leaned forward to peer over her shoulder as she demonstrated her amazing discovery.

  Ben screwed his face together, concentrating on sounding out the letters. “S-c-h-o-o-l. School!"

  With a squeal of triumph, Lacy clapped her hands. “Yes. Oh, Ben, you can read, just not in the same way everyone else does. For some reason, you're seeing the letters backward, and holding them up to the mirror allows you to see them the right way, er—the right way for you, that is."

  "Why, that's the silliest thing I ever heard,” Rusty blurted.

  Lacy twisted in her seat and glared at him. “It may be silly, Grandpa, but if it helps Ben learn to read, we don't care how silly it is, do we?” With a sniff, she turned back to the paper and began writing a short sentence, head bent as she worked. “If he can learn the alphabet this way, then he can also learn to recognize the letters even when they look backward to him. All he has to do is turn them around in his head. Picture that letter backwards."

  Ben pulled on her sleeve. “Does that mean I'll have to take a mirror to school with me?” He didn't sound happy about the prospect and Lacy didn't blame him. Other children could be so cruel.

  She paused with pencil in hand, winking at him. “No. I think in a few weeks, you'll be ready to do without the mirror. Meanwhile, I'll continue helping you with your lessons at home until you feel like you're ready. How's that?"

  Looking relieved, Ben nodded.

  "Maybe Takola can help you, too. She has such pretty penmanship. They must have had a teacher on the reservation.” Lacy turned to confirm this with Takola, but Takola had vanished. “Now where did she get off to? She was here just a moment ago."

  "She was letting me in,” came Adam's drawling response as he appeared in the kitchen doorway. Takola hovered behind him, staring at Adam with something that suspiciously resembled hero-worship.

  "Oh.” Lacy's heart leaped in her chest at the sight of him, then settled into a faster than normal thumping. She lowered her lashes before he saw how glad she was to see him. She looked him over, noting the snug fit of his pants and the way he always left his shirt open at the throat. He could at least button another one, Lacy thought crossly, swallowing hard. “I didn't hear anyone knock."

  "I didn't either,” Ben added, smiling a welcome.

  "Then I guess it's a good thing Takola has excellent hearing.” Adam shifted the burlap sack on his shoulder to a more comfortable position and stepped forward to ruffle Ben's hair. Still smiling, he transferred his gaze to Lacy's up-turned face. “I guess you forgot to pick up my laundry when you delivered the clean stuff,” he chided in a tone that clearly indicated he didn't believe it for a moment.

  The guilty flush that stained her cheeks could not be stopped. Lacy felt its warmth creep into her face and knew by his lifted brow he saw it. She didn't notice the sack on his shoulder because she was too busy looking at him, and yes, she had deliberately ‘forgotten’ to pick up his laundry.

  She didn't want to go into his bedroom again because she was trying to forget what almost happened there. What she had wanted to happen. Crazy, that's what she was. And so was Adam Logan.

  Not to mention a sneak and a liar. She thanked her memory for reminding her, knowing she needed all the help she could get to keep distance between them. “Fridays are rather hectic for me,” she demurred, refusing to look away despite the betraying flush.

  "I'll bet they are.” He reached out and rubbed gently at a pencil mark on her chin.

  Lacy pulled back, but not fast enough. The heat of his touch warmed her skin and she cursed him with her eyes. Desperately, she searched for something to cool the air between them. “Had any luck pulling the wool over people's eyes?” she questioned nastily.

  Adam refused to take the bait, which confused Lacy to no end. Normally he pounced on the opportunity to spar with her, as if he thoroughly enjoyed it. Now all he said was, “Not much,” before his gaze fell on the mirror, then on the paper beneath Lacy's hand. “What's with the mirror?"

  Grudgingly, Lacy explained about Ben. When she finished, Adam was staring at her strangely. She squirmed, wishing he would move away. Thunder, but it was really starting to heat up in the kitchen! Breathlessly, she added, “I figured it out when Ben came to show me the deputy star you gave him. He read the word ‘deputy’ in the mirror without any trouble at all."

  Ben jumped in place, his blue eyes sparkling. “Lacy says I can go to school in a few weeks, when I don't need the mirror no more."

  "Anymore,” Lacy corrected automatically.

  "That's what I said, no more."

  Lacy gave up, meeting Adam's amused gaze over Ben's tousled head. She kept her own quivering smile out of sight. He thought he could just walk in here and charm her into forgetting how he had lied, deliberately not telling her he had no intention of staying...

  No. It wouldn't work.
Adam Logan couldn't be trusted, hadn't he proven it? Soon enough, the enamored citizens of Shadow City would discover his duplicity. Lacy hadn't told anyone what she knew, but if Adam didn't soon, she would.

  She knew where her loyalties lay, even if her grandfather had forgotten. But after a hot argument, she had promised Grandpa to give Adam a month, and he'd used up a week of that already. She was keeping silent for her grandpa, not for Adam Logan. At least, that's what she kept repeating to herself.

  Adam ruffled Ben's thick mop of hair again and smiled down at him. “Why don't you take this to the wash shed for me?” When Ben grabbed the sack and skipped out the back door, Adam turned to the silent girl in the doorway. “Have you finished any pictures for me, Takola?"

  Lacy stewed silently as she watched Adam effortlessly charm her family. Takola fairly flew out of the room to retrieve the drawings she had so painstakingly created for Adam. Her grandfather offered Adam a seat at the table and Lacy tried to think of a genuine excuse to leave the room as Adam took a chair opposite her. Her mind went blank. It was Saturday evening, and most of the chores were done. Dinner was out of the way; the hog was fed; the dishes were clean, dried and put away. She could plead a headache and retire to her room, but her grandpa would know she lied. Adam probably would too, and he'd give her one of those amused, challenging looks.

  Thunder.

  Ben returned, unknowingly saving her from herself. “Would you write out some more words for me to study, Lacy? I can't wait to go to school like the other boys.” His chest swelled visibly. “They're jealous of my deputy's star."

  Lacy leaped on the request, taking her time as she penciled out several words for Ben. Finally, she could dally no longer. She handed Ben the paper, pencil and the mirror. “If you have any trouble, just write the letters beneath them, as you think they should look. I think you'll have to rely on your memory, Ben, but you shouldn't have a problem with that."

  "Thanks, Lacy.” He raced from the room, nearly bumping into Takola as she entered laden with a stack of papers.

  Shyly, Takola approached Adam and set the drawings before him, looking anxious for the first time Lacy could recall. Adam studied each picture with great care and Lacy felt her heart soften. Adam Logan may have his faults, but he sure knew how to boost a child's confidence.

  "My,” he whistled, gaining a smile from Takola. “These are unbelievable."

  Lacy laughed at Takola's hurt expression. “No, Takola. He doesn't really mean that he doesn't believe them. He means they're wonderful.” When Takola's face cleared in understanding, Lacy added, “Our people don't always say what they mean."

  Adam glanced at her sharply, eyes narrowing in warning.

  Lacy shot him a sweet, innocent smile she suspected he wasn't buying.

  He pushed his sweat-soaked hat back and drawled, “That's true, Takola. And some people deny what they're feelin', too."

  Lacy gasped.

  Adam grinned, a grin of pure deviltry as he added, “But I'm tellin’ you the truth. I've never seen anything like your drawings before."

  This seemed to satisfy Takola, although she still looked confused. With a nod in Adam's direction, she left the three adults to talk.

  Talk. Lacy didn't want to talk with Adam Logan. She wanted to escape. The room was growing warmer by the minute and it was all she could do to keep from fanning herself. Adam would make something of that! And just what had he meant by some people deny their feelings? She didn't deny anything. She just wasn't going to allow reckless passion to ruin her life.

  Reckless passion. Lacy nearly groaned out loud. Where on earth was she getting these insane notions? What she felt for Adam wasn't passion. It was ... it was a physical thing. Ordinary, when a body thought about it. A normal reaction from a woman who had experienced what happens between a man and a woman.

  Which was a bald-faced lie and she knew it. It was one thing to lie to someone else, but quite another to lie to oneself. Nothing she and David had experienced together had been pleasant, but just the slightest lazy look from this good-for-nothing sheriff and her heart acted strange, her palms got sweaty, and her knees felt like jelly.

  Ridiculous.

  "I'm going for a walk,” she said abruptly, rising from the chair. Please God, let her legs be stronger than they felt.

  Adam was up before she could finish rising. “I'll go with you, Miz Ross. Don't want to walk these streets alone at night."

  Lacy froze, her jaw falling open in dismay. She'd never dreamed he'd be so bold. But she should have known. She should have blasted known. “I—I don't need protection, Sheriff Logan. And if I did, I've got Deputy Palmer here.” She smiled at her grandpa, silently pleading for his help.

  But her grandfather showed her just how stubborn he could be. “Nope, think I'll turn in early.” He feigned a huge yawn and Lacy wished she had something handy to shove down his throat when he added, “Adam, much obliged."

  Lacy watched him go, speechless that he would leave her at Adam's mercy. Of all the miserable, low-down things to do ... Traitor! Oh, she would get him for this—

  She jumped as a strong hand landed on her arm. “Shall we?” Adam said in her ear.

  Jerking her arm free, she whirled on him, eyes blazing, throat working with the effort to slow her words enough so he wouldn't miss a single one. “I do not want to go walking with you, Sheriff Logan. Folks might see us—"

  Before she could finish, Adam closed the short distance separating them and hauled her against his hard form. Nose to nose, he ground out, “You ashamed of me, Miz Ross? Is that what you're saying? You don't want to walk with the grandson of a coward?"

  Lacy stared into his furious eyes, wondering how she had gotten herself into this mess. Only moments ago, he had been teasing her, taunting her in the usual way. Usual way? Was she, then, so familiar with his ways?

  "I'm not ashamed to be seen with you, Adam.” Her breath hitched in a little sigh of relief when he eased his hold. “I wasn't talking about who you are, I was talking about the gossip it would start.” She licked her lips, watching his eyes as they immediately dropped to watch the movement as if it fascinated him. Did he look at Mary Ann this way? The possibility was too painful to even think about. Was it deliberate, this seduction, or was it a natural, impulsive response? Lacy discovered she wanted to know and in the next breath decided she had completely lost her mind.

  Besides, she didn't know how to go about finding out if Adam's actions were sincere or contrived.

  Adam slid his hand up her arm, raising goosebumps along the way. He used his other hand to cup her hip and pull her slowly closer, until she felt the hard muscles of his thighs flex against her softness. With his handsome face only inches away again, he said softly, “My apologies, Lacy. I'm afraid my temper's a little short today and you made me mad.” He eased his mouth closer to her waiting lips.

  Lacy caught her breath and held it, not wanting anything to startle the moment because she had missed him, could not wipe the memory of their last kiss from her mind. Try as she might, she could not forget Adam Logan or how he made her feel.

  Alive. Yes, alive and ... quivering for something she couldn't name, something she was certain he could give her and something she was certain would trap her.

  "And you know what happens when you make me mad, don't you Lacy?” he prompted, so close Lacy fancied she could see her reflection in his eyes.

  His warm breath wafted over her face in a gentle caress. She inhaled the faint scent of mint and coffee, felt the heat of his body seep into hers. Her eyes grew heavy and her breasts strained as if they had a will of their own. She couldn't speak, didn't want to jeopardize the fragile joy of being held close against the heartbeat of another. Not just any other, but Adam, a man who turned her world upside down with just a smile and a kiss.

  He chuckled in a lazy way, but Lacy could feel the tension in his body and knew he wasn't unmoved. “Guess I'll have to show you."

  Yes, Lacy thought, closing her eyes. This is what
I want, what I've been waiting for since the last time. No matter how much she tried to thrust it from her mind, it always came back to this. Her and Adam, locked in an embrace. Tentatively, she lifted her arms and circled his neck.

  There wasn't anything remotely innocent about his kiss, Lacy thought, parting her lips and surrendering without a fight. He didn't hesitate, nor ask permission. He just took what he wanted, confident she wanted the same thing.

  He was right. Lacy arched against him, not caring what Adam might think of the movement or who might walk in and see them. She felt as if she had starved for his kiss this past week. What a fool she had been, telling herself she didn't care, congratulating Mary Ann for ‘drawing first blood’ as Susan and Carrianna had laughingly called it.

  What a darn fool.

  The rough sound of someone clearing their throat brought Lacy floating back to the ground. Adam slowly lifted his head from her lips, staring at her heavy-lidded eyes for a long moment before looking over her shoulder. Warm and fluid, Lacy turned to follow his line of vision. It was hard to snap out of the daze she was in, but she gave her head a little shake and focused on her grandfather standing in the doorway.

  The moment her gaze settled on him, her grandpa wiped the sappy grin from his face—but not before she saw it. She frowned and moved from the circle of Adam's arms, waiting on her grandfather to speak.

  "Didn't mean to interrupt, but there's some men at the door, asking to speak to the sheriff.” He lifted his bushy brows and grinned at Adam. “I believe that's you?” He didn't seem to mind not being able to claim the job any longer, which immediately aroused Lacy's suspicions.

  "What kind of men, Grandpa?” she asked sharply.

  He pointed to Adam with a strange smile. “They want to see the new sheriff. It's that Salvage man. He's back and he's got the money to start building a new lumber mill again."